Safety device

Abstract

Sensor means for monitoring the awareness status of an individual within a monitored environment ( 50 ) comprising means ( 55 ) for determining the attainment of at least one predetermined condition identifying the requirement for the awareness of an individual to be monitored, and operative to trigger an alarm ( 70 ), means ( 15 ) operable by the monitored individual for inhibiting the operation of the alarm, and delay means for delaying the triggering of the alarm ( 70 ) for a predetermined period after the attainment of the said predetermined condition.

1. Sensor means for monitoring the awareness status of an individual within a monitored environment comprising means for determining the attainment of at least one predetermined condition identifying the requirement for the awareness of an individual to be monitored, and operative to trigger an alarm, means operable by the monitored individual for inhibiting the operation of the alarm, and delay means for delaying the triggering of the alarm for a predetermined period after the attainment of the said predetermined condition, wherein the means for inhibiting the alarm are resiliently biased to an alarm activating position such that the means for inhibiting the alarm requires deliberate muscular effort to overcome the resilient biasing, further comprising second means for inhibiting the operation of the alarm located externally of the monitored environment and operable by a supervisor able to maintain supervision of the monitored environment. 
   
   
     2. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the monitored environment comprises an enclosed space. 
   
   
     3. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the monitored environment is a cubicle. 
   
   
     4. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the monitored environment is a lavatory cubicle. 
   
   
     5. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the means for determining the attainment of a predetermined condition detects the presence of a monitored individual within the monitored environment. 
   
   
     6. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 5 , in which said means for detecting the presence of a monitored individual act indirectly by sensing operation of a door lock. 
   
   
     7. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 5  in which the means for detecting the presence of the monitored individual act by remote sensing means sensitive to the presence of an individual within a range thereof. 
   
   
     8. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1  in which the means for inhibiting the alarm are operable by a limb of the monitored individual. 
   
   
     9. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the means for inhibiting the alarm are operable by a foot of the monitored individual. 
   
   
     10. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the means of inhibiting the alarm comprise a pedal. 
   
   
     11. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the means for determining the attainment of a predetermined condition and/or the means for inhibiting the alarm comprise a member which does not protrude substantially above the level of an associated surface so as not to present a risk of tripping. 
   
   
     12. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising warning means which operate during the said predetermined period after the attainment of the said predetermined condition. 
   
   
     13. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the warning means comprise means for generating an audible signal. 
   
   
     14. Sensor means as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the means for inhibiting the alarm further comprise a guard for preventing accidental operation.